Black Women in the Ivory Tower: Institutional Oppression and Intersectionality

Abstract

An increasing number of Black females pursue post-baccalaureate degrees to make academia their professional career. However, they frequently face multiple layers of systemic oppression that marginalize their identity as Black females. Systemic oppression in the programmatic, departmental, and university context shapes Black females’ experiences and affects their view of themselves. In light of the political structure of higher academia, this can create further systemic barriers to their successful pursuit of an academic career. In this article, attention is concentrated on how institutional and systematic oppression works against Black females in developing professional identity as they pursue their professional careers in higher education. Specifically, this article will cover how various contexts can influence their identity at multiple stages of career development. An intensive discussion on the history of institutional oppression towards Black females in academia and multiple case studies will help readers understand how social inequalities are perpetuated by institutional oppression.